大象传媒

Introduction

On Tuesday 6 June 2000 the Normandy Veterans Association West Cumbria (Branch No 51) held a commemorative service to remember those who died for their country in war, and in particular those who were involved in the Battle of Normandy. It was held at 10.55 am in St Nicholas Gardens, Whitehaven, Cumbria where the Branch has a Commemorative Plaque. This submission gives the order of that service on that day. It shows how a group of Normandy Veterans and others who remember World War Two bear witness to those who died.

That service was also the occasion of the unveiling of the Normandy Veterans Memorial Seat in the Church Gardens, close by the Commemorative Plaque. Several members of this Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association have kindly assisted me with information for my research about the Battle of Normandy for university projects and I have attended a number of their memorial services and social events in recent years.

The service was conducted by the then Anglican Team Vicar of Whitehaven, the Reverend Jim Baker. Mr Harold Drake, a member of the Branch spoke on behalf of the members. Mr Drake had previously agreed to write a short account of his wartime experiences for me, which I was able to incorporate into one of my university submissions.

Mr Drake signed a form agreeing that I could donate this to an archive and that it could be read by others if they wished. He has since passed away and I would like to dedicate this submission to his memory, and also to the many comrades he honoured during his lifetime.

The Veterans D-Day Anniversary Commemoration:

ORDER OF SERVICE
Normandy Veterans Association
West Cumbria Branch 51

St Nicholas Gardens, Whitehaven
Tuesday 6th June 2000
10.55 hours

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE AND COMMITMENT

The Reverend J.H. Baker

Let us remember before God, and command to his sure keeping: those who have died for their country in war; those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure; and all who have lived and died in the service of mankind.

Mr H. Drake Member of the West Cumbria Branch

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.
We will remember them

All. We will remember them

Last Post

Silence for two minutes

Reveille

Mr H. Drake

鈥淲hen you go home
Tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow
We gave our today鈥�

A wreath will be placed at the plaque on behalf of the Normandy Veterans.

Children from St James鈥� and St Begh鈥檚 Junior Schools will pay their respects to the memory of the fallen.
(The children place a poppy cross in a receptacle filled with sand from one of the Normandy beaches)

The Mayor of Copeland, Councillor Joan Hully will unveil the Normandy Veterans Memorial Seat.

The Reverend J.H. Baker

We dedicate this Memorial Seat in memory of those who served unto death and gratitude for those who returned after service and suffering.

Grant we pray Thee, Almighty God, that we here, who do honour to the memory of our brethren鈥檚 loyal sacrifice, may be filled with the spirit of their love and courage, and forgetting all selfish and unworthy aims, may live together to the glory of Thy Name and in the service of our fellow men, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

All. Normandy Veterans Prayer

O Eternal Lord God, who has united together all Veterans of the Normandy Campaign. Grant we beseech you, your Blessing and give strength to carry on our work to aid and bring Comradeship to all Normandy Veterans, and joy and common purpose throughout our Association. We ask this in the name of JESUS CHRIST whose courage never failed. AMEN.

The Reverend J.H. Baker

Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and our fellow men: that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations.

All

Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to you and all mankind in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name. Guide us by your spirit give us wisdom, give us courage, give us hope, and keep us faithful now and always. Amen.

The Lord鈥檚 Prayer

Our Father 鈥︹��

THE BLESSING by the Reverend J.H. Baker

Credits:

Public address system by Glenn Tubman.
Artillery by the Army Cadets.
Bugle by the Navy Cadets.

The story of Gunner Harold Drake, Royal Artillery, a Normandy Veteran

Mr Harold Drake from Egremont, Cumbria read the extract of the poem 鈥楩or The Fallen鈥� at the above ceremony. He was a fully active member of Branch No. 51 of the Normandy Veterans Association (West Cumbria) until he passed away. I have heard Mr Drake recite the poem on several occasions. He did not need to refer to any notes. Every time, he recited the poem flawlessly and in a way that probably only someone who has lived through the experience of war could do.

After the war, Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery opened the D-Day Landing museum at Arromanches in Normandy, next to what was Gold Beach. At its opening, Mr Harold Drake represented the Cumbria County Division of the Royal British Legion. During the war, Mr Drake was Gunner Harold Drake, serving with the Royal Artillery. He was with the 190th Field Artillery, 15th Scottish Division. Mr. Drake鈥檚 Division landed in Normandy at 鈥楪old Beach鈥�, Arromanches, Normandy on 12 June 1944 (D-Day +6).

This is what Mr Drake wrote down for me about his time with the colours in Continental Europe:

鈥淚n June 1944, we were in a holding camp at Lancing near Worthing. We arrived in Normandy on 鈥楧-Day鈥� + 6, but were held up due to a two-day storm. We had very little contact with civilians 鈥� mainly on the farms for eggs and chickens.

I especially remember the 1000 bomber raid on Caen. After Normandy, there was the drive to relieve Nijmegen 鈥� Arnhem by the Guards Armoured Division, after the parachute drop for Arnhem. We crossed the Rhine under a smoke screen. On the advance into Germany, the Hermann G枚ring Panzer Division at 脺ltzen surrounded us.

Then there was the take-over of Neuen Gamme Concentration Camp near Hamburg. After releasing the inmates, and receiving the S.S. prisoners, we were detailed for the firing squad to shoot the Camp Commander.

While inspecting the displaced persons camp, I was given a 鈥楬itler Youth knife鈥� by one of the Hitler Youth. I have photos of the camp and information in German, as well as maps, newspapers and history of the war from November 1939 to 1944.鈥�

Conclusion

Several former British veterans from the Normandy campaign formed the Normandy Veterans Association (the N.V.A.) on 8 April 1981, 37 years after the Battle of Normandy. Among the activities undertaken by individual branches are regular meetings, assistance of members, dedication of standards, fund raising, and from time to time explaining to others about the Battle of Normandy.

Very important to the members are the commemorative services for those former comrades who died in the War. The Order of Service given above was one of two services organised each year by Branch No. 51 (West Cumbria) of the NVA. They all take place in the grounds of St. Nicholas Church, Whitehaven although members come from all over West Cumbria. These commemorations are usually held on 6 June, the anniversary of D-Day, and 11 November, the anniversary of the Armistice of World War I.

The eligibility conditions for membership to the Normandy Veterans Association are that one must have served in one of the branches of the armed forces in Normandy between 5 June 1944 and 20 August 1944, the period covering the Battle of Normandy. Nevertheless, there are also several 鈥榓ssociate members鈥�, who were not in Normandy in 1944. Additionally, some members of the armed forces who served in Normandy during the summer of 1944 are not members of the Normandy Veterans Association.

The members鈥� blazer badge is made up from the initial letters of the name of the Association (N.V.A.), the word 鈥楴ormandy鈥� and the year of the Normandy landings (1944). The colours of the badge are blue, red and green. The blue represents the blue skies, which were under the protection of the R.A.F. The red represents the blood, which was lost on the invasion beaches. The green represents the green fields of Normandy.

At the time of writing, the Secretary of the West Cumbria Branch is Mr Jim Jolly, R.A, and the Treasurer is Mr Pat Kelly, who served with the 11th Armoured Division. As well as Mr Drake, Mr Jolly and Mr Kelly, several other members of the West Cumbria Branch of the NVA helped supply me with detailed information that I was able to use for a university research project about the Battle of Normandy. Their Association encourages members to talk about the war to younger generations and on 6 June 2000 some primary school children played an active part in the Dedication service. It has been an honour to submit this article and acknowledge Mr Drake and his colleagues in the Normandy Veterans Association.

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